Dear People of St. James’,
This week, bishops from all the Anglican Communion from all over the world are gathered at the Lambeth Conference. The Lambeth Conference has taken place approximately every ten years or so since 1867. The bishops’ prayer and reflection on the work of the Church is one of the things that makes us more “one” as a global communion, because it strengthens the ties that bind as we seek to follow Jesus together.
As Lambeth is a gathering of the human family from 165 countries, it should come as no surprise that there will be some disagreement and differences at such a family gathering. The bishops come together knowing that some of those disagreements and differences may only be resolved in the fullness of time, but they also gather in the hope of unifying their voices to make certain statements about who we are and what the mission of the Church is in this time: in a world facing the ravages of climate change, dramatic economic inequities, mass migrations, and rising nationalisms. The Lambeth Calls documents are meant to be a focal point for the bishops’ conversations over the coming weeks. Each of the Calls grounds the essential work of the Church in scripture, acknowledges current challenges of Christians across the globe seeking to follow Jesus in the area of the call (e.g. Evangelism, Honoring Human Dignity, Stewardship of the Environment, Sustainable Development, Inter Faith Relations), and sets out some actions that churches in the Communion can take locally and collaboratively.
Before the drafting process for The Lambeth Calls concluded, urgent concern arose over some language in the Lambeth Call on Human Dignity (see page 14-17 of the document). Although the Call on Human Dignity is largely concerned with stark economic inequities, the painful legacies of colonialism and globalization, and the human toll of racism and prejudice, deep concern erupted over the insertion in one of the draft documents of an affirmation of a 1998 Lambeth affirmation that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. The pain of seeing this in a document on Human Dignity at a time in our own nation’s life when the gains marked by the historic Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision of 2015 seem to be under threat sparked a powerful outcry across social media and anxiety in the hearts of many Episcopalians who believe that key to honoring human dignity is the honoring covenants of love regardless of sexuality. Some felt blind-sided by the draft document, even though it is known that globally The Episcopal Church is in a small minority in terms of its celebration of same-sex marriage.
There are a few things that I want you to know:
- The language that so alarmed people has been revised to be more descriptive rather than prescriptive (see item 2.3). This is to say that it currently just says how things are. While we agree that “Prejudice on the basis of gender or sexuality threatens human dignity,” provinces in the Anglican Communion are in continued disagreement about same sex marriage. The Call states that the bishops remain committed to continued listening and walking together “to the maximum possible degree.” Over the course of Lambeth, I know that the bishops will be praying over and discussing and discovering what that commitment to listen and walk together “to the maximum possible degree” means. We do know that it will not mean The Episcopal Church or The Episcopal Diocese of Texas losing their resolve to honor human dignity by blessing the marriages of same-sex couples, to continue to strive for the end of prejudice against LGBTQ+ communities and individuals, and to fully recognize the gifts and vocations of all of the baptized.
- Bishop Doyle, the Bishop Diocesan of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, released a statement to affirm what I just stated, and to call us to prayer as the bishops discuss documents that are not final.
- St. James’ Episcopal Church in Austin was among the first churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas to celebrate same-sex blessings and marriage. That should not surprise us because St. James’ has also been a trailblazing congregation in the movement toward full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons, advocating at Diocesan Council after Diocesan Council and General Convention after General Convention for the honoring of the dignity of every human being and the call of all of the baptized. We have come this far by faith led by the Spirit, so we will let nobody turn us around.
I want to reassure you that there is little to fear from the discussion of the document in its current form, and perhaps, very much to be gained. At its core, it addresses issues that are fundamentally aligned with the mission of our own congregation: getting honest and active in redressing the legacies of colonialism, slavery, and racism; ministering to and with the poor and working for more just economic systems and outcomes for those at the margins; welcoming ALL to God’s table of abundance. Let’s allow these things to guide us in our daily life and work, and in our hoping and dreaming and planting of future foundations.
I know that some of you are worried about the lives and dignity of those you love. Some of you have experienced painful rejection by Christian leaders and communities on account of who you are and who you love. Maybe this letter helps, but maybe it doesn’t. Maybe there is something else that we need to do to bear the worry and the fear together. Let’s talk.
In the meantime, I am looking forward to checking in on how Lambeth is going, and I am paying particular attention to the conversations about the discussions about the Environment and Justice. I am also looking forward to being a part of the Episcopal group marching in Austin PRIDE on August 20.
The Rev. Eileen O’Brien
Rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church
